Scripture Passages:

2 Chronicles 20:1-30King Jehoshaphat’s One True Avenger

KING JEHOSHAPHAT

Hebrew Word: Yehoshafat

“The Lord has Judged”

THE ENEMY

2 CHRONICLES 20:1-2

1After this, the Moabites and Ammonites

with some of the Meunites came to wage

war against Jehoshaphat.2Some people came and told Jehoshaphat,

“A vast army is coming against you from

Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea.

It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En

Gedi).

We may suddenly find ourselves in most

serious peril.

Such things do occur to nations, to

Churches, to families, to individual men. In

some wholly unexpected quarter a grave

difficulty arises.

THE KING’S

REACTION

2 CHRONICLES 20:3

3 Alarmed… (NIV)

3 Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news…

(NLT)

3 And Jehoshaphat feared… (KJV)

3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid… (ESV)

REACTIONSare typically emotional in nature and often

happen so quickly we don't have time to

appraise our behavior before we've acted.

THE KING’S

RESPONSE

RESPONDING to a situation differs from reaction because

it allows room for our highest self to assess

a particular situation.

(1)

Pray & Fast

2 CHRONICLES 20:3-4

3Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire

of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all

Judah. 4

The people of Judah came together

to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they

came from every town in Judah to seek

him.

It is appropriate, in the day of our trial

and our peril, to take active measures

to secure the merciful and mighty

succor of our God.

Prayer and Fasting

Put You into the Best Possible Position

for a Breakthrough

(2)

Proclaim and

Remember

God’s Work

Proclaim & Remember

1. His Almighty Power

• 2 Chronicles 20:6

2. His Divine Faithfulness

• 2 Chronicles 20:7-9

3. Our Utter Helplessness

• 2 Chronicles 20:10-12

GOD’S

ANSWER

(1) A Dissuasive against Fear

2 Chronicles 20:1515

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and

all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is

what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid

or discouraged because of this vast army.

For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

(2) A Command to Advance &

Directions to Follow

2 Chronicles 20:16-17a16

Tomorrow march down against them… 17a

You will not have to fight this battle.

Take up your positions; stand firm and

see the deliverance the Lord will give

you, Judah and Jerusalem.

(3) An Encouragement to

Hope for Victory

2 Chronicles 20:17b17b

Do not be afraid; do not be

discouraged. Go out to face them

tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

(3)

Praise & Give

Thanks to the

Lord

2 CHRONICLES 20:18-19

18Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to

the ground, and all the people of Judah and

Jerusalem fell down in worship before the

Lord. 19

Then some Levites from the

Kohathites and Korahites stood up and

praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a

very loud voice.

"Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his

face to the ground", in token of

humility and reverence, as well as of

adoration and submission. Levites,

stood up to praise the Lord God of

Israel with an exceeding loud voice,"

adding notes of thanksgiving and

rejoicing.

A VICTORY

WITHOUT A

BLOW

It is not the

trials that make

us strong, but

our responses in

those trials.

2 CHRONICLES 20:15

15He said: “LISTEN,

King Jehoshaphat and

all who live in Judah and Jerusalem!

This is what the Lord says to you:

‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because

of this vast army.

For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

AVENGE

Old Testament: Hebrew

“Naqam” - punish

New Testament: Greek

“Ekdikesis” - Vindication, retribution

LUKE 4:18

18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because

he has anointed me to proclaim good news

to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim

freedom for the prisoners and recovery of

sight for the blind, to set the oppressed

free,

…Will uphold us in His righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)